CONSULTING TRENDS

Check out our Sector Report for Consulting 2026 for an overview of the industry, key challenges and opportunities, and general market trends for 2026.

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THE LIFESTYLE OF A CONSULTANT

• They work in a fast-paced culture and a stimulating environment.
• They are offered great opportunities for career growth.
• After the first couple of years, they receive an attractive pay.
• They face a great variety of projects.
• They don't mind working long hours when the project demands it.
• They have the opportunity to travel if the business needs it.

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MAIN ROLES IN CONSULTING

If you are thinking about becoming a consultant, there are two main paths you can pursue:

1. Becoming a consultant at a consulting firm.
Either a big or a boutique firm. At a consulting firm, you could have an external consulting position, which consists of directly working for a client, or an internal consulting position, which consists of supporting other teams from the inside.

Consultant positions: 
The biggest portion of employees at a consulting firm are consultants. They are the ones working on the projects. Promotion in consulting is very linear and fast, which explains the well-established hierarchy. Depending on the services offered by the firm, you can also work as an Auditor or Business Analyst.

2. Becoming an Internal Consultant at any Multinational Company, which is also known as in-house consulting.

In-house consulting:
In-house consulting is another name for internal consulting. It usually refers to a department established in a large company, which provides management consulting services to the rest of the company, or to selected departments.

If you are planning on working as an In-house Consultant, the industrial sector could be a good option to be considered. Check out here for more info!

However, if what you like is the environment and culture of a consulting firm, but do not want to work as a consultant, you can always apply to common internal functions as the ones listed below.

Internal positions: 
Consulting firms are companies with a regular organizational structure. This means you can also work in a consulting firm in departments such as:

• Accounting
• Human resources
• Marketing & communications
• Legal department
• ...and many more!

Applications open when there's a need in the company and the vacancies are published on their own job sites. Usually, these internal positions require students to like the industry, but they don't necessarily ask for case-cracking skills (which consultant positions require).

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MAIN PLAYERS

However, if what you like is the environment and culture of a consulting firm, but do not want to work as a consultant, you can always apply to common internal functions as the ones listed below.

These are only a few of the many consulting firms to consider. There are many consulting firms not included in any of these lists that are still great professional opportunities. Smaller, boutique firms can be perfect to learn a lot and grow fast within the company.

Click here for Tech Consulting.
Click here for Social & Behavioral Sciences Consulting.
Click here for Branding & Communication Consulting.
Click here for Architecture & Design Consulting.
Click here for Public Affairs, Policy & International Consulting.
Check out Management Consulted Top Consulting Firms by Industry.

There is not one better than the other, only think of what fits best with the type of tasks and projects you enjoy. What type of questions would you like to answer for your clients? 

Here are some examples:

• How do we align teams to execute the new vision? - Management Consulting
• Where should we grow next? - Strategy Consulting
• Why is our order processing taking three days instead of one? - Operations Consulting

Most big consulting firms today are a mix of these consulting areas, not exclusive to only one type of consulting. It is relatively easy to move from one to the other. Specially for junior roles, companies appreciate any consulting experience, even if obtained in a different area.

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DESIRED PROFILE FOR GENERAL CONSULTING POSITIONS

You need to show them how passionate you are about the Consulting Sector. That needs to be clearly stated in the first sentence of your CV. They want to see a committed student with a clear career direction and with the skills they are looking for.

Some other highly valuable skills in consulting are adaptability, humility to be coachable and willing to learn, curiosity, eagerness and initiative.

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CRAFT YOUR CONSULTING CV

Consulting is a competitive sector in which we need to make the most of our first impression: our CV. Keeping in mind the ideal candidate for Consulting, you can craft a CV that is impressive for recruiters even without experience. 

Here are some ideas:

• Include "Relevant Courses" in your IE University Education and highlight quantitative coursework: Classes like economics, statistics, finance, engineering, or computer science can help demonstrate your analytical strength.
• Make sure to mention your client-facing or leadership tasks as part of your experiences or extracurricular activities: Whether you’ve led a campus organization, worked in customer service, or participated in volunteer projects, firms love to see that you’ve developed interpersonal and leadership skills in real-world settings.
• Include tasks and extracurricular activities that demonstrate structured thinking: Participating in case competitions, debate teams, or business clubs can show that you can structure your ideas and approach problems logically—exactly what you’ll be doing in client cases.
• Don’t forget to add your data analysis skills: Experience with Excel, SQL, Python, or data visualization tools is increasingly valued, as many consulting projects rely on data-driven insights. As an IE student, you have access to more than 4,000 courses on Coursera. Register and log in using Single Sign-On and your IE credentials here.

Continue reading to find Opportunities & Musts during your time at IEU that will help you strengthen your Consulting candidature.

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THINGS YOU CAN DO

As we explained in the Webinar on "How to Get Experience When you Don't Have Experience", there are various things you can do while at IE University to complete your CV. Make sure to review those activities and complement them with some specifics to make your CV more consulting focused and attractive to top firms.

Consulting Club
Consulting recruiters view active involvement in your university's Consulting Club very positively and sometimes even require it. You should not only join the club but also take part in its activities (Bootcamps, Case Olympics, Cups of Consulting, company presentations, etc.). Join the IE Consulting Club.

Consulting Simulations
Make your CV stand out to consulting recruiters by doing and including different The Forage consulting simulations. Having done their own or other's consulting simulation will be valued, showing interest and proactivity in becoming a consultant. Check all the available job simulations posted by top consulting firms here.

Undergraduate Global Case Competitons
If you want to stand out to consulting firms, global case competitions are a game-changer. They give you hands-on experience solving complex business problems, working in teams, and thinking strategically, just like a consultant would. 

Case competitions are a great addition to your CV. Even if you don’t win, participation demonstrates initiative and a global mindset, making you stand out as a proactive, well-rounded junior profile ready to add value from day one. 

Take a look at these global case competitions for undergraduates:

• Global Case Competition by 180Degrees Consulting: Applications typically open in August and close in September.
• ISM Global Case Competition: Applications typically open in September.
• Global CBS Case Competition: Applications deadline is typically November.
• Global Case Competition at Harvard (GCCH): Applications typically open in November.

• Case Competition World Cup by Management Consulted: Applications deadline is typically December.
• Accuracy Business Cup: Applications deadline is typically January.

Keep in mind that applications and deadlines may vary from one year to the next.

Networking Events
Consulting is a competitive sector, but making the most of events at IE can help you stand out as a candidate and increase the chances of your CV reaching recruiters and employers. Throughout the year, many consulting firms make time to meet with IE students at the IE Tower and Velázquez Campus, and some also hold online sessions. Keep track of our communications and attend events whenever you can.

IE Opportunities for Early-Year Students 
From your very first year at IE, there are multiple programs powered by Talent & Careers that can help you build a professional and enriching experience with companies across different sectors, including consulting.

Young Corporate Program (YCP) & Deloitte

Participation in some of these programs during your first year at IE can lead to return offers after graduation. Explore all the opportunities here.

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CONSULTING OPPORTUNITIES TIMELINE

Big consulting firms often recruit many months in advance. We can find offers with start dates 6 months and sometimes even a year from now. It is highly encouraged to keep reviewing which opportunities are open long before we actually want to start.

There are always spontaneous opportunities and much more immediate processes in any firm, big and small. Do not be discouraged if you haven't started applying yet and wish to join a company soon, it is never too late!

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STEPS WITHIN THE RECRUITING PROCESS

While consulting firms welcome a great variety of profiles, it is essential for all candidates to carefully prepare each step of the recruitment process, specially cases. Case interviews require good practice to be done correctly. In the following sections, you can find information about the typical recruitment process at a consulting firm and how to prepare each step using all the resources at your disposal.

WHAT CAN YOU APPLY TO

Once your CV is on point, you can start applying. Depending on your year and experience you can either apply to:

• Summer Programs, Summer Experiences, Bootcamps or Challenges
• Summer Internship
• 6-month Internship
• Entry level positions

Find details on all these opportunities below. Please, keep in mind that this information may vary from one firm to another so take this information as a general overview of the most-frequent opportunities available in the Consulting Sector.

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CONSULTING SECTOR Q&A SESSIONS

You can join our sector-specific monthly session in Consulting. Work alongside Talent & Careers to discuss your own career strategy for the Consulting Sector and solve any possible questions you might have.

This open session happens on the first Tuesday of the month at 11:30 – 12:30 and 16:00 – 17:00, only from October to May. Visit our page and join via the shared Zoom link at any time during these hours.

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These links showcase IE alumni thriving in the consulting sector. They provide valuable insights into their career journeys and the skills they developed at IE. Enjoy exploring!

TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS GUIDE

There are many consulting firms, so the opportunities are endless! If you have decided to start your career in Consulting, there are several steps you can take to get started:

• Join the IE Consulting Club and consider global case competitions to acquire relevant experience before professional experience.
• Craft your CV according to what is expected and desired from a candidate applying to consulting.
• Follow key companies closely and be up to date with any events and networking opportunities you might encounter. Sometimes companies come to IE and sometimes they invite us over. Network as much as possible both inside and outside IE!
• Practice cases as soon as you start applying. Aim for at least 20 practice cases before you do any case interview.
• Contact us if you are scheduled for an online assessment or any interview and we will help you prepare!
• Attend our monthly sector-specific session in Consulting if you have any doubts.

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